Speeding up the funding process

Six years ago Murdo Macleod walked into the Crossgates branch of HSBC armed with little other than a business plan and a cocktail of ideas.

He secured a £15,000 loan to start pop-up cocktail bar firm Zest Mixology, based at the Dolly Lane Business Centre.

Now he has runs an operation in Leeds and London, employs 10 full time staff and a uses a cohort of 50 expert mixologists for his bespoke private and corporate events which are being expanded in London in a new project.

Mr Macleod, 40, will be among those giving advice and perhaps even financial backing at an event in Leeds next week to link up start-ups and small businesses with funding houses and investors.

‘Show me the Money’ is a two-hour-long cash whirlwind, a collaboration between small business support group Enterprise Nation, HSBC and leading UK professional services firm KPMG. where business founders work the room with a view to making deals to secure seed funding or growth capital.

Mr Macleod said: “In 2011 I walked into the HSBC branch and had a meeting with the relationships manager armed with my ideas. She said it was the best business plan she had ever seen and leant me £15,000.

“It allowed me to buy the kit and events equipment I needed to start Zest Mixology and I paid back the loan in 24 months.”